Monday, January 18, 2016

Only built for internet linx

1. This article from the New York Times’ T magazine, on the efforts of artists Mark Bradford, Theaster Gates, and Rick Lowe to create spaces for black art in black communities has been on my mind a lot lately, especially this quote from Mark Bradford: "You get on a bus. You go to a museum. You see art. And I felt it had little to do with my day to day, or anything that was going on in my head.” In Los Angeles at least the physical distance between black communities and art spaces can eventually become psychic distance - “I don’t feel like sitting on the bus for an hour” can easily be rationalized with, “What’s there for me anyway?” Considering how little most art instutitions do to engage with "the black community" - especially those of us belong to the lower middle and working classes - this isn’t exactly a leap of thought. But yeah, I love this and I love what these artists are doing.

3. "That’s why I hate these New Year’s that fall like fixed maturities, which turn life and human spirit into a commercial concern with its neat final balance, its outstanding amounts, its budget for the new management. They make us lose the continuity of life and spirit. You end up seriously thinking that between one year and the next there is a break, that a new history is beginning; you make resolutions, and you regret your irresolution, and so on, and so forth. This is generally what’s wrong with dates.” Antonino Gramsci being salty about New Year’s

8. "Her surveillance provides little in the way of edification and a lot in codifying uncomfortable catch 22’s for black women and privacy: visibility is part of achievement in media, but is it worth it when even at the pinnacle of your success the only thing made visible is the racism of those observing you?”

10. “What does it mean to be a landlord and to own property if your tenants can infinitely sublet it? What does it mean to be a tenant if you Airbnb your apartment half of the year? Who knows? But redefining private property rights: How ambitious!”

Bonus: some things I like reading about (food, identity construction through consumerism, and shade towards Anthony Bourdain) all wrapped up nicely in one TNI article